Larry G. Sparks, 75, of Lynnville died Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2020, at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. A private family graveside service and military honors was held Monday, Mar. 23, at Woodland Cemetery in Lynnville. The graveside service was livestreamed on the funeral home’s Facebook page. A public visitation was held Mar. 22 at Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton with no family present. Memorials to Larry’s family (checks made payable to Brenda Denmark) may be left or mailed to the funeral home to be used for the Lynnville Historical Society or to a music scholarship for his grandson Nicholas.
Larry, the son of Lloyd E. and Alice (Ratcliff) Sparks, was born Aug. 2, 1944, in Oskaloosa. He grew up in Lynnville and graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School in 1962.
During high school, Larry worked on his family’s farm and for surrounding area farmers. Larry was united in marriage with Bonnie Benson on May 6, 1967, at Kellogg Methodist Church. Larry served his country in the United States Air Force for over 20 years, retiring as a Master Sergeant. During his time in the service, he lived in Germany, the Philippines, and Iceland. He also received many college degrees while in the service, many of which involved construction and building trades.
After the service, he made his home back in Lynnville and worked at William Penn College in maintenance, at Wagaman Mill, owned Larry’s TV Service, and later retired from Pella Electronics. Larry was a member of the Lynnville Historical Society.
He was the proud owner of a 1968 Camaro he was in the process of restoring. He also enjoyed going to classic car shows. Larry was good with carpentry and construction and could build an entire house using those skills.
Larry is survived by his daughter Brenda (Mick) Denmark of Lynnville; grandsons, Adam Thiessen and Nicholas Denmark; his siblings, Lloydeana (Jim) Stewart, Dennis Sparks, William “Bill” (Lyndia) Sparks, Mary (Emmett) Kadwell, and Mildred (Rich) Henschel; many nieces and nephews; and his special friend Virginia Meredith, her son, Kevin (Julie) Meredith, and their two children, Cora and Carter.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Bonnie; sisters-in-law, Judy Sparks and Carol Sparks; and a special friend, Irene Janssen.
